New Delhi- Bodo Groups Protest at Jantar Mantar
Bodo organisations held a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar urging the Centre to expedite pending clauses of the Bodo Accord, including the 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill.
NEW DELHI- A coalition of Bodo organisations staged a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar on Friday, demanding time-bound implementation of the Bodo Peace Accord, 2020, and the passage of the 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2019. The demonstration followed a national seminar at the Constitution Club attended by leaders from ten Sixth Schedule councils across Northeast India.
The protest, led by the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) in association with the United Boro People’s Organization (UBPO) and the Ex-NDFB Welfare Association, marked a renewed push for federal action after what the organisations described as years of sluggish progress on key commitments under the Accord.
Also Read- Protests in Delhi Over Pending Bodo Accord
Addressing the gathering, Dipen Boro, President of ABSU, said the Bodo Accord had created conditions of peace and stability in the Bodoland region, but its credibility now depends on measurable action from the government. “For five years, we have waited with patience and faith, yet several key clauses remain untouched,” he said, urging immediate tripartite talks between the Centre, Assam Government and ABSU to fast-track unresolved commitments.
Despite multiple rounds of tripartite review meetings—over a dozen since 2020—and repeated engagements with the Union Home Ministry, the organisations allege that progress remains unsatisfactory. The slow pace of implementation, they argue, raises questions about the government’s commitment to the timelines agreed upon during the signing of the Accord.
Also Read- Assam Day Shines at 44th IITF in New Delhi
At the centre of the protest was the demand for the passage of the 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which seeks to strengthen the administrative and financial powers of Sixth Schedule councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. The organisations argue that enhanced autonomy and direct financial devolution are essential for effective governance in tribal-administered regions.
The groups also reiterated their long list of pending demands under the Bodo Accord, including expansion of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) constituencies, transfer of subjects under Annexure-I, formation of constitutionally backed village and municipal councils, inclusion of tribal-majority villages, and ST(Hill) status for Bodo-Kachari communities in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.
Also Read- Mass Protests by Displaced Persons Erupt Against Sangai Tourism Festival 2025
Other demands include provincialisation of Bodo-medium institutions, land rights under the Forest Rights Act, withdrawal of pending cases against former NDFB members, and establishment of a cultural and academic infrastructure package worth ₹1,500 crore—including universities, sports facilities, a medical sciences institute and the Majbat–Holongi highway.
To intensify the movement, the organisations announced a mass gathering in Kokrajhar in December 2025, where nearly two lakh people are expected to participate.
While the government has previously affirmed its commitment to implementing the Bodo Accord, Friday’s protest underscores the growing impatience among stakeholders who argue that peace must be sustained with visible policy action. The coming months will likely determine whether the stalled clauses gain momentum or remain locked in prolonged bureaucratic negotiations.
